The ICC World Cup 2023 is set to kick off on October 5 in India, featuring ten formidable cricketing nations, including Pakistan. In this tournament, Pakistan aims to redeem themselves after falling short of the semifinals in the 2019 edition. Furthermore, they come into this competition with a strong track record, having reached the final of the T20 World Cup just a year prior.
While the tournament takes place in India, providing Pakistan with favorable conditions similar to their home country, it’s essential to note that they haven’t played in India since 2016. Pakistan has clinched the ODI World Cup title only once, during the memorable 1992 edition when they dominated England in the final.
Pakistan World Cup Schedule: Pakistan’s journey in the ICC World Cup 2023 will unfold in a round-robin format, featuring a total of nine matches in the league stage. Their first encounter is against the Netherlands on October 6, and they’ll conclude the league stage against England on November 11. Below is the detailed schedule:
- October 6: Pakistan vs. Netherlands, 2nd Match at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad (2:00 PM IST)
- October 10: Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka, 8th Match at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad (2:00 PM IST)
- October 14: Pakistan vs. India, 12th Match at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (2:00 PM IST)
- October 20: Pakistan vs. Australia, 18th Match at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (2:00 PM IST)
- October 23: Pakistan vs. Afghanistan, 22nd Match at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (2:00 PM IST)
- October 27: Pakistan vs. South Africa, 26th Match at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (2:00 PM IST)
- October 31: Pakistan vs. Bangladesh, 31st Match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata (2:00 PM IST)
- November 4: Pakistan vs. New Zealand, 35th Match at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (10:30 AM IST)
- November 11: Pakistan vs. England, 45th Match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata (2:00 PM IST)
Pakistan World Cup Squad 2023: While Pakistan is yet to officially announce their squad for the World Cup, it’s expected to closely resemble their Asia Cup 2023 squad, which was unveiled a few weeks ago. Babar Azam will lead the team, with key players like Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Shadab Khan expected to play pivotal roles. Here’s a glimpse of the probable Pakistan squad for ICC WC 2023:
- Captain: Babar Azam
- Vice-Captain: Shadab Khan
- Players: Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Stay tuned for the official squad announcement as Pakistan gears up for an exciting campaign in the ICC World Cup 2023.
